Chenango County, New York
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 36017 · population 47,199 · 893 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 785 records for Chenango County, New York from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 443 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (361 records). The deadliest single record is the October 14, 1989 tornado: 2 deaths and 3 injuries. FEMA has issued 31 declarations naming the county since 1972, 27 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby” on September 24, 2024.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 785on 443 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 510 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $207Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 19strongest EF2
- FEMA declarations
- 31latest 2024
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Chenango County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 361 since 1958. 59% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1958 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among New York's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 361 | 202 | 1958-2026 | 1 | 4 | $3.1M | 30 of 58 |
| Floods | 135 | 69 | 1996-2025 | 1 | 0 | $193M | 25 of 58 |
| Winter storms | 110 | 110 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 0 | $4.3M | 49 of 58 |
| Hail | 109 | 49 | 1989-2026 | 0 | 0 | $42K | 40 of 58 |
| Tornadoes | 19 | 14 | 1989-2024 | 2 | 5 | $5.0M | 18 of 58 |
| Extreme cold | 18 | 17 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | $39K | 46 of 58 |
| High wind and dust storms | 14 | 14 | 1996-2019 | 0 | 0 | $984K | 56 of 58 |
| Lightning | 8 | 6 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 1 | $432K | 32 of 58 |
| Heat | 4 | 4 | 2001-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 34 of 58 |
| Drought | 3 | 3 | 1998-2001 | 0 | 0 | – | 42 of 58 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 2000-2000 | 0 | 0 | $9K | 42 of 58 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2010-2013 | 0 | 0 | – | 23 of 58 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Chenango County had?
NOAA records 19 tornadoes in Chenango County from 1989 to 2024, the strongest rated EF2, with 2 deaths and 5 injuries recorded in the county. That is 18th of 58 New York counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 17 tornadoes whose track touched Chenango County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 19: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 2 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989-10-14 16:15, as SPC files it | Unnamed | F2 | 2 mi | 2 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in New York.
Every tornado record filed for Chenango County (19)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-07-15 | Lincklaen, Chenango County | EF1 8.69 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $113K |
| 2014-09-02 | Bennettsville, Chenango County | EF1 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $12K |
| 2013-04-19 | Bennettsville, Chenango County | EF0 1.99 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $89K |
| 2011-07-29 | Guilford, Chenango County | EF0 0.27 mi x 175 yd | 0 | 0 | $7K |
| 2011-04-28 | Pharsalia, Chenango County | EF2 7.37 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $820K |
| 2011-04-28 | Smithville Center, Chenango County | EF1 3.39 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $98K |
| 2011-04-28 | Columbus, Chenango County | EF1 3.47 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $66K |
| 2003-08-29 | Beaver Meadow, Chenango County | F1 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $160K |
| 2002-06-05 | Bainbridge, Chenango County | F0 1.1 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $82K |
| 1998-06-26 | New Berlin, Chenango County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 1998-06-02 | Pitcher, Chenango County | F1 0.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $453K |
| 1998-05-31 | North Norwich, Chenango County | F0 0.5 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $244K |
| 1998-05-31 | Plymouth, Chenango County | F2 1 mi x 1,500 yd | 0 | 0 | $905K |
| 1996-11-08 | Oxford, Chenango County | F0 1.2 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $141K |
| 1996-11-08 | Oxford, Chenango County | F0 0.7 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $141K |
| 1993-05-15 | Otselic, Chenango County | F1 2.5 mi x 125 yd | 0 | 2 | $1.0M |
| 1992-05-02 | Chenango County | F1 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1992-05-02 | Chenango County | F0 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1989-10-14 | Chenango County | F2 2 mi x 300 yd | 2 | 3 | $25K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Chenango County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 18, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($2,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindEarlville, Chenango County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindSmyrna, Chenango County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindGreene, Chenango County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindEast Guilford, Chenango County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindGreene Airport, Chenango County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindLincklaen, Chenango County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-03-31 | HailBainbridge, Chenango County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-31 | HailAfton, Chenango County | 1.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-31 | HailGreene, Chenango County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-25 | Winter StormChenango County · forecast zone Chenango | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-26 | Winter StormChenango County · forecast zone Chenango | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-04 | Winter WeatherChenango County · forecast zone Chenango | 1 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989-10-14 | TornadoChenango County | F2 2 mi x 300 yd | 2 | 3 | $25K step |
| 2025-12-04 | Winter WeatherChenango County · forecast zone Chenango A female driver passed away from a head-on collision with a tractor-trailer which was traveling northbound on Route 12B and lost control during a snow squall. The truck crossed into the southbound lane colliding with the other vehicle. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2006-06-27 | Flash FloodCountywide, Chenango County A steady stream of tropical moisture flowing north into upstate New York ahead of a frontal system across the eastern Great Lakes brought periods of heavy rain and thunderstorms to Chenango County from early Monday the 26th through Tuesday morning the 27th. From 1.5 to 4 inches of rain fell by Tuesday morning. This ... | 1 | 0 | $73M | |
| 1995-06-26 | Thunderstorm WindSmithville Flats, Chenango County | 1 | 0 | $968 | |
| 1995-07-15 | Thunderstorm WindSherburne, Chenango County | 0 | 2 | $116K | |
| 1993-05-15 | TornadoOtselic, Chenango County | F1 2.5 mi x 125 yd | 0 | 2 | $1.0M |
| 2014-09-02 | Thunderstorm WindNorth Afton, Chenango County A microburst with maximum wind speeds of 90 mph, a path length of 6 miles and a path width of 0.5 miles uprooted numerous trees near the Afton area between 830 and 845 pm EDT. The microburst overturned two large farm hay wagons and peeled part of a roof off of a barn. Many trees were damaged at the Afton Golf Course. ... | 78 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $37K |
| 1996-05-18 | LightningNorwich, Chenango County A man was struck by lightning while trying to seek shelter from thunderstorms. | 0 | 1 | – |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-06-27 | FloodBainbridge, Chenango County | 0 | 0 | $73M | |
| 2006-06-28 | FloodRockdale, Chenango County | 0 | 0 | $4.4M | |
| 2003-04-04 | Ice StormChenango County · forecast zone Chenango | 0 | 0 | $3.2M | |
| 2006-06-27 | FloodGreene, Chenango County | 0 | 0 | $2.9M | |
| 2004-09-18 | Flash FloodSouth Portion, Chenango County | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | |
| 2005-04-01 | FloodChenango County · forecast zone Chenango | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | |
| 2005-04-02 | FloodChenango County · forecast zone Chenango | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | |
| 1993-05-15 | TornadoOtselic, Chenango County | F1 2.5 mi x 125 yd | 0 | 2 | $1.0M |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: May 2, 1992 (tornado, Chenango County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Chenango County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 3 | 5 | 30 | 90 | 77 | 80 | 75 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 9 | 64 | 46 | 16 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 21 | 45 | 24 | 20 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 52 | 42 | 8 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 5 | 11 | 0 | 2 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
59% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1958 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 47 · Feb 31 · Mar 44 · Apr 44 · May 88 · Jun 169 · Jul 155 · Aug 76 · Sep 43 · Oct 23 · Nov 32 · Dec 33 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Chenango County
FEMA's register lists 31 declarations that include Chenango County: 20 major disasters, 11 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (12) and flood (5).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-24 | DR-4825 | Tropical Storm | Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby |
| 2021-08-22 | EM-3565 | Hurricane | Hurricane Henri |
| 2020-03-20 | DR-4480 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3434 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-12-19 | DR-4472 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2018-10-01 | DR-4397 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2017-07-12 | DR-4322 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2013-07-12 | DR-4129 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2012-10-28 | EM-3351 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011-09-13 | DR-4031 | Severe Storm | Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee |
| 2011-09-08 | EM-3341 | Severe Storm | Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee |
| 2011-06-10 | DR-1993 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2009-09-01 | DR-1857 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2008-12-18 | EM-3299 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2006-12-12 | DR-1670 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2006-07-01 | DR-1650 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-30 | EM-3262 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-04-19 | DR-1589 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2004-10-01 | DR-1565 | Severe Storm | Tropical Depression Ivan |
| 2004-08-03 | DR-1534 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2003-08-23 | EM-3186 | Other | Power Outage |
| 2003-05-12 | DR-1467 | Severe Ice Storm | Ice Storm |
| 2003-03-27 | EM-3184 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2003-02-25 | EM-3173 | Snowstorm | Snowstorms |
| 2001-09-11 | DR-1391 | Fire | Fires and Explosions |
| 2000-10-11 | EM-3155 | Other | West Nile Virus |
| 2000-07-21 | DR-1335 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1998-06-16 | DR-1222 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| 1996-01-24 | DR-1095 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1993-03-17 | EM-3107 | Snowstorm | Severe Blizzard |
| 1972-06-23 | DR-338 | Flood | Tropical Storm Agnes |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Chenango County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 135 flood or flash flood records for Chenango County from 1996 to 2025, on 69 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Chenango County ranks 435th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm Lee | 2011-09-07 | 4 | 0 |
| Tropical Depression Ivan | 2004-09-18 | 2 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $11.4 million on 632 claims filed in Chenango County; the most in one year was 228 in 2011. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 6 · 1979: 29 · 1980: 3 · 1981: 11 · 1982: 1 · 1983: 3 · 1986: 3 · 1993: 7 · 1994: 1 · 1996: 7 · 1998: 3 · 1999: 1 · 2000: 2 · 2001: 4 · 2004: 2 · 2005: 62 · 2006: 215 · 2007: 2 · 2008: 1 · 2011: 228 · 2012: 3 · 2013: 15 · 2014: 3 · 2015: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 7 · 2020: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 3; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Chenango County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Chenango County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $27.0 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $24M | 2.4 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $99K | 21 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $5K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $366K | once in about 56 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $117K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.2M | 4.3 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $192K | 29 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $955K | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Chenango County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in New YorkEvery New York tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in New YorkThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The New York recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Chenango CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Chenango County's FEMA declarations (CSV)31 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis